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Amongst the Christmas celebrations I was saddened to read in the newspaper that a couple were found in their house on Christmas day morning, after they appeared to have committed suicide. The Times reported that they were “’in deep financial trouble’ and had apparently decided to end their lives because they could not cope during the festive season”.

It is tragic that financial stress appears to have caused these parents of two young children to decide that life was not worth living and it is especially tragic that this happened around Christmas, which, at it’s root, is about the good news of God sending His son into the world to bring us life and Read more…

Words can often cause problems. That is, people who speak the same language, often use words in different ways. Words of course can change over time, just think of the way the word ‘gay’ has changed its meaning in 50 years. But it can also happen amongst people in the same generation.Let me give you an example from my wife’s experience, who has a Southern girl lived in the North for a few years.

Natalie was working as a Lay Assistant, she had a contract for a year which she could extend to a second year if she wished. As the time approached for her to decide people in the church began to ask if Natalie would be extending to a second year. But, in the North we use the word ‘stopping’ as a synonym for ‘staying’. It would be very normal, for example when asking a Northerner what they are doing this evening, to hear the answer ‘I’m stopping in’, that is they are staying at home. I’m sure now you can see the slightly amusing conversation Read more…

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Preached at St Barnabas’, Jericho, on the Sunday After Ascension, Trinity Term, 1st June 2014

Suprises can be terrible things! Not knowing how to act, being caught off guard, maybe even acting instinctively, rather than with our usual polished performances. Imagine the scenario where your spouse, family-member, or friend, tell you they are taking you on a surprise trip. Questions naturally flood your mind: Should I agree or not? What shall I wear? Should I make a break for the door, or go along for the ride? When I enter the destination, persumably wearing a blindfold, will it be something terrible, or something terribly exciting? Surprises can be terrible things.

But imagine that scenario slightly changed. Imagine this time that Read more…

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We all know that Social Media can be used powerfully for good or bad; we are aware of cyber bulling and predatory uses, but I wonder if we have given enough thought to how we, as your every-day users of Facebook, use such media. I wonder if we strive to use Facebook in a loving and thoughtful way? When I mention Facebook I am not being exclusive, as I’m sure many of the points highlighted here may be the same for other social media, but I am most au fais with Facebook!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is not self-seeking

Unfortunately much of what we do on Facebook can be self-seeking, for example, we want to present the best side of our life – and pretend that it’s like that all the time. We can de-tag photos, we can hide what others can see and we can largely present ourselves just as Read more…

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"[Christian rebellion] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets itself against the social injustices which insult God the Creator, seeks to protect human beings from oppression and longs to liberate them… it protests against every authoritarian regime, whether of the left or of the right, which discriminates against minorities, denies people their civil rights, forbids the free expression of opinions or imprisons people for their views alone."— John Stott